Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, an Assistant Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Thorneloe University in Sudbury, has been awarded a $400,000 grant from Canadian Blood Services to improve how donors are screened and made eligible to give blood.

Dr. OmiSoore Dryden and her research team will investigate how African, Caribbean, and Black men who have sex with men (cis and trans) are negatively impacted by a number of questions on the blood donor questionnaire. For the duration of the project, Dr. Dryden will be appointed as a Researcher-In-Residence at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN).

“We are pleased that Dr. Dryden has been selected to lead this research of national scope and significance,” says Thorneloe University President Dr. Robert Derrenbacker. “We commend the Canadian Blood Services for recognizing the important contribution that our faculty can make when reviewing an organization’s policies and procedures.” He added: “Investments in faculty research help to strengthen our academic programs, a priority in Thorneloe University’s new Strategic Plan.”

“Dr. Dryden is a leader in her field and our students are so fortunate to have access to the research on discriminatory blood donation screening in Canada. It’s a topic that many communities care about,” says Dr. Jennifer Johnson, Department Chair of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. “Now, along with our students and colleagues, a much wider audience will have the opportunity to learn more from Dr. Dryden and her research team.”

Thorneloe University has offered academic programming in the humanities for more than 50 years. As a founding member of the Laurentian University Federation, on the campus of Laurentian University in Sudbury, Thorneloe is home to the departments of Ancient Studies, Theatre and Motion Picture Arts, Religious Studies, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, as well the Thorneloe University School of Theology.